FAU defensive ends hope to thrive in new 3-4 system

Kevin Cyrille, Jamere Johnson think they will be able to make more plays

August 10, 2011|By Ted Hutton, Sun Sentinel

BOCA RATON — It's not often that scout team members create a buzz, but Kevin Cyrille was one Florida Atlantic player who was able to do just that.

Cyrille had been recruited by FAU when he was playing at North Miami High School, but he had chosen to go to Western Michigan instead.

Missing South Florida, Cyrille transferred to FAU and had to sit out the 2008 season, but the explosive defensive lineman had coaches and teammates talking about the potential he showed playing with the scrubs.

And while Cyrille moved into the starting lineup in 2009, his play has been solid but not exceptional.

Now the Owls and Cyrille are hoping the change in the defensive formation from a 4-3 to a 3-4 will allow Cyrille a better opportunity to disrupt offenses.

"I think it is a good move for us. We can make a lot more plays," said Cyrille (6-foot-4, 275 pounds).

After giving up an average 453.2 yards per game in 2009, FAU switching defensive coordinators, and Kurt Van Valkenburgh was able to get that number down to 401.6 yards per game last season, but the Owls went 4-8 and are hoping the change in formation can help the defense put up better numbers.

Starting at the end opposite Cyrille is senior Jamere Johnson (6-4, 270), who also likes the new arrangement.

"I like it a lot. We are going to be very aggressive," said Johnson, who had three sacks last season in five starts.

Van Valkenburgh has been incorporating more blitzes in the playbook, and that also has the defensive ends excited.

"We can mess up their whole blocking scheme," Johnson said.

Van Valkenburgh has been asking his defense to be more physical and has put more emphasis on putting pressure on the quarterback, and the Owls showed improvement. In 2009 FAU had 12 sacks and five interceptions and last year they had 20 sacks and 11 interceptions.

As seniors, Cyrille and Johnson also want to go out as winners, and said they are coming into the season in the best shape in their careers.

"You have to go your hardest. We want to go out with a bang," Cyrille said.